Lift mechanism for tractor drawn implements



June 18, 1935. J. MORKOVSKI LIFT MECHANISM FOR TRACTOR DRAWN IMPLEMENTSFiled Dec. 23, 1933 5 r m 5 m m i 2 NM- m m M wk N 2 M r E 3 B H a m m Im s K m m S H w 3 K M \\\M\\ X R m w x m D d HUN F 8 J M M F m E M T F IL June 18, 1935.

June 18, 1935. J. MORKOVSKI LIFT MECHANISM FOR TRACTOR DRAWN IMPLEMENTSFiled Dec. 23, 1935 5 Sheets-pheet 5 Qvwenii r Patented June 18, 1935warren STATES" I aooasssur'r MECHANISM ron reaction naawn iMranr/mN-rs.lfames Morkovski, Qanton, EL,

national Harvester Gompany,

New Jersey assignor to limitera corporation of Application December 23,1933, Serial No. water 16 Claims.

This invention relates to tractor implements.

More particularly it relates to lifting means for tailed description tofollow. These objects are accomplished by a construction such as shownin the drawingsin which: Figure 1 is a top plan view showing the rearportion of a. track laying tractor and an implement embodying theinvention attached thereto; (one end of the. implement has been brokenaway in order to show theconstruction on a larger scale);

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the same construction shown in Figure 1;(the implement is shown in'lifted position in dotted lines);

Figure 3 is also a side elevation, showing the harrow teeth of theimplement in 11 e g ging position; and, Figures 4 and 5 are top planviews on a smal1 scale, illustrating the effect of angular movements ofthe tractor upon the flexible draft connections.

In the drawings a conventional tractor of the crawler type isillustrated having a main frame, W, track frames. pivoted at their rearends on the main frame l0, track chain driving sprockets l2, and trackchains l3 diagrammatically illustrated. At the rear of the main frame, apowerlift casing I4 is secured in position to be driven by theconventional power take-off shaft of the tractor. Said casing containshalf revolution power lift mechanism, as shown in the United StatesPatent No. 1,911,373, May 30,

y 1933, including a transverse shaft l5 extendin fromeach side of thecasing. Aligned lifting cranks l6 rigidly secured to said shaft areconnected by links H with arms i8 rigidly secured to a transverserockshaft l9. Said rockshaft is rotatably mounted in bearing brackets 20rigidly secured to the main frame "I. The rockshaft i9 is provided withrearwardly extending lifting arms 2| to be utilized as will behereinafter described. Actuating levers 22 for controlling the operationof the power lift mechanism. are provided at each side of the operatorsseat 23 on the tractor.

- with respect to th se on the ,curved shape, parallel lever arms Theimplement illustrated in the particular embodiment of the inventionshown in the drawings is a spring tooth harrow, the elements of whichare of a conventional construction. Two sections have been shown,although one 5 section might be utilized, or a larger number than two.Each section of the spring tooth harrow includes a U-shaped frame 24.Said frame includes a transverse front portion and longitudinallyextending side portions. At longitudinally spaced locations, upstandingbrackets 25 are rigidly secured to the side portions of the frames 26.Transverse shafts or pipes 26 are mounted for rotation on transverseaxes in transversely aligned pairs of the brackets 25. 5 Spring harrowteeth 2i are secured in transversely spaced locations to the pipes 26.The teeth on the respective pipes are also staggered adjacent pipes.

To provide means for altering the positions of the harrow teeth, whichare of a conventional 28 rigidly secured to the pipes 26 are secured. toa longitudinal adjusting bar it. The forward arm 28 extends beyond thebar 29 to form a fulcrum thereon. Ihe forward end of the bar 29 has anupward extension 30 carrying pivotally mounted thereon a block 3i. Athreaded adjusting rod 32, rotatably mounted in the block 3!,is'threaded through a block 33 pivotally mounted on the 30 upper end ofthe forward arm 28, thereby providing means for altering the position ofthe harrow teeth with respect to the frame to and at the same timechanging the angle of the teeth points with respect to is a conventionalmeans for adjusting the teeth on a spring tooth harrow.

Each frame 24 is pivotally connected on a transverse axis by means oftwo pairs of spaced brackets 34 to spaced brackets 35 secured to atransverse support 36 formed from an angle bar. The brackets 34 areprovided with a plurality of vertically spaced openings 34' to providemeans for vertically adjusting the point at which draft is appliedthrough the pivotal connection of the support 36 with the frames 24.

Draft bars 31 are pivotally connected by hooks 38 to the main frame ofthe tractor forwardly of the track chain sprockets l2. The hooks 38 aresecured to members 39 which are mounted over the pivot of the trackframes II on the main frame I0. Said draft bars are loosely connected tothe hooks 38 to provide for pivoting of the bars on a transversehorizontal axis and to provide for a certain amount of lateral theground. This 35 standing brackets movement; that is, pivoting aboutvertical axes. Each of the bars 31 extends rear-wardly and outwardly ata substantial angle with respect to the tractor and is pivotallyconnected on a substantially vertical axis to the transverse support 36.A reinforcing strap is connected to the lower endof each bar 31 toprovide a straddle mounting on the transverse support to hold it againstany movement except about the vertical connecting pivot.

On the transverse support 36 inside each draft bar 31 and closelyadjacent thereto, spaced up- 4! are provided, to which a longitudinallyextending lifting member 42 is rigidly secured. The lifting members 42extend substantially vertically adjacent the brackets 4| for asubstantial distance and from that point are bent rearwardly into asomewhat horizontal position. 'The rear ends of said members areconnected by a pipe 43. Flexible lifting chains 34 connect the ends ofthe members with collars :35 secured to the center pipe 26, whichcarries the cultivator teeth. The collars 45' are positioned outwardlyfrom the center of gravity of the harrow sections. To provide forlifting the unbalanced por ions of the harrow sections, a flexiblelifting connection in the form of a chain 46 is connected to thecross-pipe 43 and to the adjacent side portions of the frames 24. It.will be noted that the construction of the side frames at the adjacentsides is somewhat different from that at the outer sides. An upwardlycurved and rearwardly extending bar 24 carries the center ends of therear teeth carrying pipes 26. This construction provides for betteroperation of the harrowduring flexing movements in which the adjacentportions of the harrow sections drop downwardly below the outsideportions.

Forwardly of the brackets 4! on the transverse support 36 the liftingmembers 42 extend downwardly and forwardly beneath the draft bars 31.Transverse members 4''! are secured to the forward ends of said membersin a position to slidably engage the lower edge of the draft bars 31.Said members form a T-head on the lifting members of a suflicientlateral width to engage the draft bars throughout the range of lateralmovement provided forby the pivotal connections at both ends of thedraft bars 31 and to thereby form a laterally flexible connection.

Flexible connections v48 in the form of chains are connected to thelifting arms 2| of the power lift construction and to eye bolts 49mounted on the transverse support 36 in vertical alignment with thelifting arms.

In the operation of an implement attachment for tractors as illustrated,the lifting arms M on the rockshaft l9'are constructed of such a lengththat a sufficient vertical lift will be obtained at their ends by:operation of the half revolution clutch lifting mechanism enclosed inthe casing l4. As shown in Figure 2 in dotted lines, the

lifting crank l6 of the power lift mechanism moves a vertical distancesubstantially twice its length, whereby the lifting arms 2! are raisedto the-position shown in dotted lines. By a subsequent actuation of thepower lift by means of either of the actuating levers 22, the liftingarms are returned to the full line position. When vertical lift isapplied through the chains 48, the transverse support 36 is liftedsubstantially vertically to a position depending upon the slack in thechains and the length of lift provided for in the lifting mechanism.with the harrow teeth either in ground engaging position, as

shown in Fi ure 3, or with the teeth out of engaging position, as shownin Figure 2, the lifting operation is exactly the same. Verticalmovement applied to the transverse support 36 lifts the rear ends of thedraft bars 31 with a pivotal movement about their connection with thehooks 38. For this reason the transverse support and the draft bars 31may be properly termed a draft frame. This frame is constructed byreason of the pivotal connections on vertical axes of the draft barswith the transverse support for a movement of translation of the support36, whereby a certain amount of shifting may take place between thetractor and the implement. As the links 31 are not parallel. themovement is not one of pure translation, a certain amount of anglingtaking place as illustrated by a comparison of Figures 4 and 5.

The lifting members 42, which carry the entire weight of the harrowsections through the lifting connections 44 and 46, are extendedforwardly to provide bracing means without exerting torque on theconnection between the transverse support 36 and the draft bars 38. Itis obviousthat, if lateral flexibility of the draft frame is to beprovided for, a rigid connection could not be made between the liftinglevers and the draft bars. For this reason the transverse, horizontalT-heads formed by the members 41 have been provided. These T-heads slidetransversely under the draft bars 31 duriifg shifting of the transversesupport with respect to the tractor. At the same time, for a liftingoperation, the weight of the harrow sections is supported by the liftinglevers without exerting torque on the transverse support, due toengagement of theT-head portions with the underneath edges of the draftbars 31.

Although the power lift mechanism is of the half revolution type,whereby the distance of lift is flxed, adjustments may be provided inthe flexible connections to; obtain the necessary lift and to providefor slack sufficient for normal fluctuations in ground level.

Although applicant has shown and described only a preferred embodimentof his improved tractor attaching means and tractor operated liftingmeans for an implement, it is to be understood that he claims as hisinvention all modifications falling within the scope of the appendedclaims.

What is claimed is: 1

1. A tractor implement comprising, in combination with a tractor, adraft frame connected to the tractor and extending longitudinallytherefrom, said frame being flexible for lateral movement, an implementframe hinged to the draft frame on a transverse axis, a lifting memberconnected to one of said frames adjacent the hinge axis, means forconnecting-said lifting member to each of the frames at points spacedfrom the hinge axis, and means for applying vertical lift adjacent thehinge axis. of the frames. e f

2. A tractor implement comprising, in combination with a tractor, adraft frame connected 1 to the tractor and extending longitudinallytherefrom, said frame being flexible for lateral movement, an implementframe hinged to said draft frame on 'a .transverse axis, a liftingmember connected to one of said frames adjacent the hinge axis, meansfor flexibly-connecting said lifting member to each of the frames atpoints spaced from the hinge axis, and mee s'for apr 2,005,555: plyingvertical lift adjacent the hinge axis of 'said draft frame on atransverse axis, a lifting member connected to one of said framesadjacent the hinge axis, means for connecting said lifting member toeach of the frames at points spaced from the hinge axis, the connectionwith the draft frame being formed to maintain its engagement with thedraft member during lateral movement of the transverse portion, andmeans for applying vertical lift adjacent the hinge axis of the frames.

4. A tractor implement comprising, in combination with a tractor, animplement frame including a draft member positioned rearwardly of thetractor, draft links pivotally connected to said frame on vertical axes,said links being also connected to the tractor on transverse horizontaland vertical axes, whereby the implement frame may move laterally andvertically with respect to the tractor, a lifting member secured to theimplement frame adjacent the transverse line of connection of the draftlinks, lifting connections between said member-and the implement frameat a point spaced rearwardly from its connection with the draft links,and means for connecting the lifting member to'one of the draft links ata point spaced forwardly from the connection of. the draft links withthe implement frame, said means consisting of a transv'erse membersecured to the lifting member and positioned beneath the draft link andengageable therewith for transmitting the lifting torque theretothroughout a substantial range of angular movement of the draft link.

5. A tractor implement comprising, in combination with a tractor, powerlift mechanism mounted thereon, an implement frame including a draftmember positioned rearwardly of the tractor, draft links pivotallyconnected to said frame on vertical axes, said links being alsoconnected to the tractor on transverse horizontal and vertical axes,whereby the implement frame may move laterally and vertically withrespect to the tractor, a lifting member secured to the implement frameadjacent the transverse line of connection with the draft links,flexible lifting connections between said member and the implement frameat a point spaced rearwardly from its connection with the draft links,and

means for connecting the lifting member to one of the draft links at apoint spaced forwardly from the connection of the draft links with theimplement frame, said means consisting of a transverse head positionedbeneath the draft link and engageable therewith throughout a substantialrange of angular movement of the draft link.

6. A tractor implement comprising, in combination with. a tractor, powerlift mechanism mounted thereon, an implement frame including a draftmember positioned rearwardly of the tractor, draft links pivotallyconnected to said frame on vertical axes, said links being also con-.nected to the tractor on transverse horizontal vconnection with thedraft links, lifting connections between said members to the implementframe at points spaced rearwardly from its connections with the draftlinks, and means for connecting the lifting members to the draft linksat points spaced forwardly from the connections of the draft links withthe implement frame for transmitting lifting torque thereto.

'7. A tractor implement comprising, in combination with a tractor, powerlift mechanism mounted thereon, an implement frame including a draftmember positioned rearwardly of the tractor, draft links pivotallyconnected to said frame on vertical axes, said links being connected tothe tractor ontransverse horizontal and vertical axes, whereby theimplement frame may move laterally with respect to the tractor, liftingmembers secured to the implement frame adjacent the transverse line ofconnection with the draft links, lifting. connections between saidmembers and the implement frame at points spaced rearwardly from itsconnections with the draft links, and means for connecting the liftingmembers to the draft links at points spaced forwardly from theconnections of the draft links with the implement frame, said meansconsisting of transverse heads on the lifting members positioned beneaththe draft links and engageable therewith throughout a substantial rangeof angular movement of the draft link.

8. A tractor implement comprising, in combination with a tractor, animplement frame structure positioned rearwardly of the tractor, atransverse support pivotally connected to said frame structure, draftlinks pivotally connected to said transverse support and to the tractor,a lifting lever rigidly secured to the transverse support and extendingrearwardly over the frame structure, a lifting connection between saidlifting lever and the frame structure, a forward extension formed on thelifting lever, said extension having a portion extending transverselybeneath one of the draft links and engaging said link forwardly of itsconnection with the frame structure, a power lift mounted on thetractor, a lifting arm operatively connected to the power lift, and alifting connection between said arm and the transverse support.

9. A tractor implement comprising, in combination with a tractor, animplement frame structure positioned rearwardly of the tractor, atransverse support pivotally connected to said frame structure, draftlinks pivotally connected to said transverse support and to the tractor,a lifting lever rigidly secured to the transverse support and extendingrearwardly over the frame structure, a lifting-connection between saidlifting lever and the frame structure, a forward extension formed on-thelifting lever, said extension having a horizontal portion extendingtransversely beneath one of the draft links, a power lift mounted on thetractor, a lifting arm operatively connected to the power lift, and alifting connection between said arm and the transverse support.

10. A tractor implement comprising, in combination with a tractor, animplement frame structure positioned rearwardly of the tractor, atransverse support pivotally-connected to said frame structure, draftlinks pivotally connected to said transverse support and to the tractor,a pair of transversely spaced lifting levers rigidly secured 'to thetransverse support and extending rearwardly over the frame structure,lifting connections between said lifting levers and the frame structure,forward extensions formed on the lifting levers, said extensions havinghorizontal portions extending transversely beneath the draft links, apower lift mounted on the tractor, a lifting arm operatively connectedto the power lift, and a lifting connection between said arm and thetransverse support.

11. A tractor implement comprising, in combination with a track layingtractor, an implement frame structure positioned rearwardly of thetractor, a transverse support pivotally connected on a transverse axisto said frame structure, draft links pivotally connected to saidtransverse support and extending forwardly and inwardly along the sideof the tractor, said draft links beingrpivotally connected to thetractor for lateral and vertical movement, a lifting arm rigidly securedto the transverse. support and extending rearwardly over the framestructure, a lifting connection between said lifting lever and the framestructure, a forward extension formed on the lifting lever, saidextension having a portion formed to engage one of the draft links fortransmitting lifting torque thereto, a power lift mounted on thetractor, a lifting arm adapted to beoperated by the power lift, and alifting connection between said arm and the transverse support.

12. A tractor implement comprising, in combination with a, track layingtractor, an implement frame structure positioned rearwardly of thetractor, a transverse support pivotally connected on a transverse axisto said frame structure, draft links pivotally connected to saidtransverse support and extending forwardly and inwardly along the sideof the tractor, said draft links being pivotally connected to thetractor for lateral and vertical movement, a lifting arm rigidly securedto the transverse support and extending rearwardly over the framestructure, a lifting connection between said lifting lever and the framestructure, a forward extension formed on the lifting lever, saidextension having a horizontal portion extending transversely beneath oneof the draft links, a power lift mounted on the tractor, a lifting armadapted to be operated by the power lift, and a lifting connectionbetween said arm and the transverse support.

13. A tractor implement comprising,'in combination with a track layingtractor, an implement frame structure positioned rearwardly of thetractor, a transverse support pivotally connected on a transverse axisto said framestructure, draft links pivotally connected to saidtransverse support and extending forwardly and inwardly along the sidesof the tractor, said draft links being pivotally connected to thetractor for lateral and vertical movement, spaced lifting levers rigidlysecured to the transverse support and extending rearwardly over theframe structure, lifting connection between-said lifting levers and theframe structure, forward extensions formed on the lifting arm, saidextension having a horizontal portion extending transversely beneath therespective draft links, a power lift mounted on the tractor, a liftingarm adapted to be operated by the power lift,

and a lifting connection between said arm and the transverse support,

14. A tractor attached implement comprising, in combination with atractor, draft members pivotally connected to the sides of the tractorforwardly of the rear end thereof and extending rearwardly beyond thetractor and at an angle outwardly therefrom, a transverse draft barpivotally connected to the draft members for limited movement in anendwise direction, an implement frame connected to the transverse bar,lifting members connected to the implement frame and extending forwardlyalong the draft members, connections formed to engage the liftingmembers with the draft members upon the application of lift, and meansfor applying lifting means adjacent the point of connection between theframe, and the transverse bar.

15. A tractor attached implement comprising, in combination with atractor, draft members pivotally connected at the sides of the tractorforwardly of the rear end thereof and extending rearwardly and outwardlytherefrom, the rear ends of said bars being spaced from the tractor fora limited swinging movement, a transverse draft bar pivotally connectedto the rear ends of the draft members whereby said bar may move intransverse directions to either side of the tractor a distancedetermined by the swinging movement of the draft members, an implementconnected to the draft bar, and means connected to the draft bar and theimplement and engageable with the draft members in any lateral positionof the draft bar with respect to the tractor, said lifting means beingoperable to lift the implement upwardly about the forward connectingends of the draft members as a pivot axis.

16. A tractor attached implement comprising, in combination with atractor, draft members pivotally connected at the sides of the tractorforwardly of the rear end thereof and extending rearwardly and outwardlyat an angle therefrom, atransverse draft bar pivotally connected to therear ends of the draft members whereby said bar may move in transversedirections to either side of the tractor a distance determined by theangular divergence of the draft members, an implement connected to thedraft bar, and means connected to the draft bar and the implementand'engageable with the draft members in any lateral position of thedraft bar with respect to the tractor, said lifting means being operableto lift the implement upwardly about the forward connecting ends of thedraft members as a pivot axis.

JAMES MORKOVSKI.

